United Nations Begins Inquiry Into United States’ Drone Program

The United Nations announced that it will be launching an inquiry into the United States’ deployment of combat drones and the legal frameworks governing such use.

Ben Emmerson from the United Kingdom, the United Nations‘ special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, opened the inquiry on January 24 and will focus on deployments in Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Somalia.

The Obama has mounted a vigorous defense of the use of drones, which remains highly confidential.

The United Kingdom stated it would comply with Emmerson’s inquiry. The main issues Emmerson will explore are the international legal frameworks governing deployment and use of combat drones, particularly in non-combat areas. A drone’s ability to operate behind enemy lines in civilian areas changes the legal dynamic at work in terms of international rules governing warfare.